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LSU to take on Texas A&M without top tailback

LSU’s Leonard Fournette dominated the Texas A&M defense the last time the Tigers played at Kyle Field. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

LSU star running back Leonard Fournette did not make the trip to College Station for the Tigers Thanksgiving game against Texas A&M.

The Baton Rouge Advocate reported the news Wednesday afternoon.

Fournette was considered a Heisman favorite in preseason. But during LSU’s August training camp, Fournette suffered a severe ankle injury. He’s already missed three games because of the injury, which has been described as both a high and low ankle sprain. It’s far more difficult to recover quickly from a high sprain.

Fournette has rushed for 843 yards in seven games. He’s a junior, but if he declares for the NFL draft could be a top 10 pick. Fournette rushed for 159 yards on 32 carries against A&M a year ago in Baton Rouge. As a freshman, Fournette abused the Aggie defense for a 146 yards.

This was one of Fournette’s impressive runs against A&M in 2014.

But LSU’s backup is more than capable of carrying the Tigers. Derrius Guice is LSU’s leading rusher with 964 yards. He’s averaging eight yards a carry.

Guice also played a big role in LSU’s 19-7 win over A&M a year ago. He had a 75-yard kickoff return and a 50-yard rushing touchdown.